Hip Pain

What Causes Hip Pain?

Hip pain is frequent and spread across all age groups. The hip joint and its integration with your pelvis, SIJ and lumbar spine (lower back) make it a complex region to analyse and assess any dysfunction correctly.

What Is The Most Common Reason For Hip, Buttock Or Groin Pain?

The answer to this question depends upon your age and lifestyle choices.

The Older Hip

If you are in the older population, you will be more vulnerable to age-related hip issues such as hip arthritis, trochanteric bursitis and GTPS (Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome). Functional limitations could include walking, sitting to stand, single-leg standing, stairs or even sleeping in severe cases.

A thorough balance assessment may be required to predict fall risk. Hip pain can also be associated with reduced balance. Your physiotherapist may prescribe Falls prevention exercises to address any individual deficits. They may even advise you to utilise a walking assistance device such as a walking stick, crutches or a walking frame.

The Sporting Hip

Younger sports-related hip issues may arise after prolonged running, jumping or landing activities. Your hip physiotherapist should discuss and thoroughly assess specific sporting hip conditions. Biomechanical deficits and subtle hip weakness that may only show on a slow-motion video are just two of the potential causes of sporting hip injuries.

Groin Pain

Groin pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with hip joint pathologies such as hip osteoarthritis and hip labral injury. A health professional must exclude many other causes of groin pain. More info: Groin Pain.

Only after a thorough hip assessment will your hip pain be effectively rehabilitated to relieve your current hip pain and joint dysfunction, plus prevent the return of any future hip pain.

Hip Pain Assessment

The successful treatment of your hip pain requires a thorough and accurate assessment of your:

• entire lower limb (foot, ankle, knee, hip, groin)
• lumbar spine
• pelvis and SIJ function and alignment
• deep hip muscle control and activation patterns
• middle and superficial hip muscle control, strength and function
• deep abdominal, core and pelvic floor muscle control
• upper thigh muscle length and strength (e.g. quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, and ITB)
• neural tissue extensibility, e.g. sciatic and femoral nerve
• hip joint biomechanics.

Hip pain is often related to your whole lower limb biomechanics and function. Your assessment should include a functional evaluation of your knee, foot and ankle joints, plus your thigh and calf muscles. They all contribute to your hip function.

For specific advice regarding your hip pain, please seek a physiotherapist or healthcare practitioner interested in hip pain and related injuries.